The Taming
and
The Conquest

Jude Deveraux

These two books are companion pieces. Ms. Deveraux often carries her characters throughout sets although each novel or short story stands on its own as well. When I read The Conquest, I realized it was the completion to The Taming.

In The Taming Liana is a beauty with a very large dowrey. Rogan Peregrine wants to marry her for that dowrey. Liana sees him and is attracted, so agrees to marry him. He marries for the money. She just happens to be the string attached.

Rogan takes her back to his run down castle. His family had been at war for years with the Howard family over land disputes. Many men in both families have died in this conflict, including Rogan's older brothers. All his money and attention go to the war, not the castle or its environs.

Liana's independent spirit quickly comes to her aid. She removes his prostitutes, cleans his home, and organizes his holdings. Then she tries to show her husband that there are more important things than war.

The Conquest continues the Peregrine/Howard feud with Rogan's younger sister, Zared. Zared has spent her entire life masquerading as a boy to keep her protected. She is captured by some of the Howard soldiers. Tearle Howard, the younger son recently home from France, sees her and immediately recognizes she is a female. His attention is caught. He allows her to be released.

He then follows her when she accompanies her brother, Severn, to a contest. In return for his help, she promises to marry him. He fulfills his end of the bargain, then insists she do the same. Zared fights with losing family honor if she does not carry through on her promise, or spending her life with a Howard.

These are both enjoyable novels. Once again, Jude Deveraux brings believable history to her novels. The Peregrine castle descriptions are very realistic.

Notice: Strong sexual content

The Prize by Julie Garwood